Sky Sports has announced that every one of the twelve group‑stage matches featuring England, Scotland and Ireland – as well as the semi‑finals and the championship match of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – will be available to stream at no cost through the Sky Sports mobile application. Fans across the United Kingdom and Ireland will be able to watch all of the home nations’ group fixtures without needing a paid subscription. In addition, the opening games for each side in the tournament, together with the grand finale, will also be carried on the free‑to‑air channel Sky Mix, ensuring maximum exposure for the event.
The tournament’s very first match – England versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on 12 June – will enjoy a triple‑platform rollout. It will be shown live on Sky One, streamed on Sky Sports’ official YouTube channel, and broadcast on Sky Sports’ traditional linear channels, giving viewers a choice of how they want to tune in. These distribution decisions are designed to attract the largest possible audience for a competition that culminates with the final at Lord’s on Sunday, 5 July.
The aim is to make the sport as accessible as possible, encouraging both die‑hard followers and newcomers to engage with women’s cricket. To take advantage of the free streams, simply download the most recent version of the Sky Sports App to your smartphone or tablet. The app is compatible with iOS 14 and newer, as well as Android 8 and later, and can be obtained from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store using the links provided on Sky’s website.
New Zealand enter the tournament as the defending champions. England, who hosted the inaugural edition in 2009, are eager to claim their first title since that historic win.
Their recent World Cup campaigns have been disappointing – they fell at the group stage in both 2010 and 2024 – so the stakes are high for the host nation. As the exclusive broadcaster, Sky Sports and its streaming partner NOW will deliver live coverage of every ball, from the opening spell at Edgbaston to the decisive overs at Lord’s. The commentary team will feature former England captain Nasser Hussain, former England women’s cricketer Natasha Farrant, and seasoned presenter Hannah Wilkes, who will provide insight, analysis and post‑match interviews.
Sky Sports is promoting a contract‑free viewing experience. There is no need to sign up for a lengthy agreement; the free streams are available to anyone who downloads the app and logs in with a free Sky account.
The platform also offers a cricket‑focused podcast, a WhatsApp channel for updates, and a recommendation to use the Chrome browser for the most reliable video player. The Women’s T20 World Cup is part of a broader summer of women’s cricket on Sky Sports. Highlights include a historic first women’s Test match at Lord’s between England and India, scheduled to begin on 10 July, and the return of The Hundred later in the month. These events underline Sky’s commitment to elevating the women’s game.
Jonathan Licht, Sky’s chief sports officer for the UK and Ireland, explained the strategic intent: "We believe this summer can be a defining moment for women's cricket. By making many of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup matches available to everyone, we can reach new audiences, build fandom and inspire the next generation. At Sky Sports, we're not just broadcasting women's sport, we're a partner in its growth, working with the ICC and ECB to make these moments as impactful as possible." Sanjog Gupta, CEO of the International Cricket Council, echoed the sentiment: "The ICC Women's T20 World Cup is positioned as a pinnacle event in global sport and a significant fan recruitment opportunity for women's cricket. This is a significant step by Sky Sports, our partner in the UK, and aligns with our strategy to widen access for fans across screens and stadia.
The UK has a proud cricketing heritage, and moments like this, where the sport is accessible to everyone, on any screen, are how we garner attention and deepen affiliation, grow the next generation of fans, and ensure women's cricket takes its rightful place in national and global sporting conversations." Tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild added: "The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is set to bring world‑class players, incredible performances, and unmissable moments to brilliant venues across England and Wales, and we couldn't be happier that even more people will be able to experience the spectacle live via this extensive Sky Sports coverage plan. With many of the biggest matches, including the opener at Edgbaston on 12 June and the Final at Lord's on 5 July, available to everybody, the stage is set for an incredible World Cup, where battles will be fought, names will be made and new fans will fall in love with women's cricket forever." Below is a full schedule of the matches that will be streamed for free on the Sky Sports App (games shown in bold are available without a subscription): - Friday 12 June: England vs Sri Lanka – Edgbaston, 6:30 pm - Saturday 13 June: Scotland vs Ireland – Old Trafford, 10:30 am - Saturday 13 June: Australia vs South Africa – Old Trafford, 2:30 pm - Saturday 13 June: West Indies vs New Zealand – Hampshire Bowl, 6:30 pm - Sunday 14 June: Bangladesh vs Netherlands – Edgbaston, 10:30 am - Sunday 14 June: India vs Pakistan – Edgbaston, 2:30 pm - Tuesday 16 June: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – Hampshire Bowl, 2:30 pm - Tuesday 16 June: England vs Ireland – Hampshire Bowl, 6:30 pm - Wednesday 17 June: Australia vs Bangladesh – Headingley, 10:30 am - Wednesday 17 June: India vs Netherlands – Headingley, 2:30 pm - Wednesday 17 June: South Africa vs Pakistan – Edgbaston, 6:30 pm - Thursday 18 June: West Indies vs Scotland – Headingley, 6:30 pm - Friday 19 June: New Zealand vs Ireland – Hampshire Bowl, 6:30 pm - Saturday 20 June: Australia vs Netherlands – Hampshire Bowl, 10:30 am - Saturday 20 June: Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Hampshire Bowl, 2:30 pm - Saturday 20 June: England vs Scotland – Headingley, 6:30 pm - Sunday 21 June: West Indies vs Sri Lanka – Bristol County Ground, 10:30 am - Sunday 21 June: South Africa vs India – Old Trafford, 2:30 pm - Tuesday 23 June: New Zealand vs Scotland – Bristol County Ground, 10:30 am - Tuesday 23 June: Sri Lanka vs Ireland – Bristol County Ground, 2:30 pm - Tuesday 23 June: Australia vs Pakistan – Headingley, 6:30 pm - Wednesday 24 June: England vs West Indies – Lord’s, 6:30 pm - Thursday 25 June: India vs Bangladesh – Old Trafford, 2:30 pm - Thursday 25 June: South Africa vs Netherlands – Bristol County Ground, 6:30 pm - Friday 26 June: Sri Lanka vs Scotland – Old Trafford, 6:30 pm - Saturday 27 June: Pakistan vs Netherlands – Bristol County Ground, 10:30 am - Saturday 27 June: West Indies vs Ireland – Bristol County Ground, 2:30 pm - Saturday 27 June: England vs New Zealand – The Oval, 6:30 pm - Sunday 28 June: South Africa vs Bangladesh – Lord’s, 10:30 am - Sunday 28 June: Australia vs India – Lord’s, 2:30 pm - Tuesday 30 June: Semi‑Final 1 – The Oval, 2:30 pm (teams to be confirmed) - Thursday 2 July: Semi‑Final 2 – The Oval, 6:30 pm (teams to be confirmed) - Sunday 5 July: Final – Lord’s, 2:30 pm (teams to be confirmed) All times are listed in UK and Ireland local time.
The Sky Sports App also provides a privacy notice and terms and conditions that users should review before installing. For the best viewing experience, Sky recommends using the Chrome browser on compatible devices.
By offering free access to a substantial portion of the tournament, Sky Sports hopes to broaden the fan base, inspire young athletes, and cement women’s cricket as a mainstay of the summer sporting calendar. Whether you are a seasoned follower or a curious newcomer, the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup promises high‑octane action, dramatic finishes, and the chance to witness the next generation of cricketing stars on the world stage.